Card holder



CARD HOLDER Filed Dec. 7, 1953 ATTORNEY United States Patent CARD HOLDER Albert F. Baumann, Wausau, Wis.

Application December 7, 1953, Serial No. 396,415

2 Claims. (Cl. 273-150) This invention relates to a card holder. More specifically, the invention relates to a holder for playing cards which is particularly intended for use by one-armed persons. The holder is adapted to be positioned on a table and is so constructed as to retain cards therein in playing position and to permit withdrawal of individual cards without disturbing the remaining cards.

Further details and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following specification and accompanying drawing, wherein Figure 1 is a perspective view of the card holder constructed according to the present invention, parts of same being shown partly broken to illustrate details thereof,

Figure 2 is a front elevational view, partly broken away, of the card holder shown in Figure 1, and

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on lines 33 of Figure 2.

Referring to the drawings, the card holder may be made of suitably molded plastic material to provide a base 12 having slightly rearwardly inclined vertical walls 12a and 12c, and a slightly rearwardly inclined upper face 12b. The base is made of suitable dimensions and weight so as to rest securely on a table or other horizontal supporting surface.

A semi-circular arcuate supporting member extends upwardly of the face 12b of the base. The supporting member 10 is preferably integral with the base 12 or may be formed separately and suitably attached thereto. A front semi-circular wall 14 extends upwardly from the face 12b. A semi-circular rear wall 17 spaced rearwardly of wall 14 also extends upwardly on base 12. Walls 14- and 17 are preferably integral with base 12 and the member 10. A movable arcuate segment 16 is positinned adjacent the rear wall 17 as shown in Figures 1 and 3. The inner diameter of arcuate segment 16 is substantially the same as the diameter of the member 10 so that the arcuate segment rests on member 10 and can be moved axially on member 10. A compressible sponge rubber arcuate segment 15 is positioned intermediate front wall 14 and arcuate segment 16 under compression so as to yieldingly urge segment 16 against the rear wall 17. Cards indicated by letter C can be readily inserted between rear wall 17 and arcuate segment 16. The cards can be arranged in any desired playing position and are frictionally retained and can be withdrawn individually with out disturbing the remaining cards.

Although I prefer to make my card holder of a single molded plastic material, other suitable materials such as wood, metal, molded pulp and the like may be utilized. The sponge rubber segment 15 may be made of rubber or any other suitable compressible material. The compressible segment 15 preferably extends about the entire face of movable segment 16 and thus applies a uniform pressure against segment 16 yieldingly urging same toward the rear wall 17. The cards C are thus retained in their individual positions by the pressure of segment 16, but upon pulling out an individual card the segment will yield sufliciently to permit ready withdrawal of the individual card. The rear wall 17 inclines slightly rearwardly so as to hold the cards C in convenient position for a player to readily read the cards.

It will thus be apparent that this invention provides a very simple but efficient means for frictionally retaining a group of cards in any desired position and for permitting removal of individual cards without disturbing the remaining cards. My card holder has no working parts which can get out of order. The sponge rubber segment constantly applies the necessary yielding pressure to retain the cards about the entire periphery of the card holder so that the cards are retained at any angle and at any position as desired.

It is to be understood that modifications and changes may be made in my construction embodying the principles of my invention which are intended to be included Within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A card holder comprising a base portion adapted to rest on a horizontal support, a front wall and rear wall both of arcuate contour extending upwardly from said base portion, an arcuate support member positioned intermediate said walls, a movable arcuate segment supported on said arcuate support for axial relative movement thereon, the inner periphery of said arcuate segment being complemental to the contour of said arcuate support member, the upper periphery of said rear wall extending beyond the upper periphery of said movable segment, and a compressible member positioned between said front wall and said arcuate segment for yieldingly urging said segment against said rear wall for frictionally retaining cards between said arcuate segment and rear wall.

2. A card holder as defined in claim 1, wherein the compressible member is an arcuate sponge rubber segment extending the entire face of the movable arcuate segment.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,104,687 MacQueen July 21, 1914 1,416,447 Castles May 16, 1922 1,967,780 Pollak July 24, 1934 2,066,887 Holmberg Ian. 5, 1937 2,564,315 Stark et al. Aug. 14, 1951 2,680,621 Crandall et al. June 8, 1954 

